In a symbolic break with apartheid, officials in South Africa's capital voted Monday to rename the city Tshwane, retaining the name Pretoria for the city center only. The decision was taken at a special meeting of the governing African National Congress-dominated metropolitan council, the South African Press Association reported. The city of 2 million, established by white settlers in 1855, was named after Andries Pretorius, a leader in the Afrikaners' "Great Trek" into the interior of the country. Tshwane, which means "we are the same," was the name used by some of the region's earliest African settlers. Opposition councilors argued Monday that the process was a waste of money, and said the move to rename Pretoria threatens to split the capital along racial lines.| In a related story, the nation of 'Chad' changed its name to 'Debby.' |
|